Trent, Andy . 2003. Laboratory Evaluation of Real-Time Smoke Particulate Monitors. 0325 2834. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Missoula Technology and Development Center. 14 p.
Describes the results of tests of new instruments that can be used to measure the particulate concentrations from forest fire smoke in real time. These instruments use the optical properties of light passed through air samples or other properties of sampled air to estimate particulate levels in real time. The new instruments included two samplers by MetOne Instruments, Inc., the E-BAM and the E-Sampler, and one by MIE, an improved version of the DataRAM4 monitor. All the instruments being tested were mounted side-by-side alongside a Federal Reference Method gravimetric sampler that was the standard all machines were judged against. Gravimetric samplers capture particulate that can be weighed to determine particulate concentration. Smoke was generated by burning beds of white pine needles in the burn chamber of the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station's Fire Sciences Laboratory in Missoula. The E-BAM samplers overestimated smoke particulate by 13 percent compared to the Federal Reference Method sampler, but the four E-BAM samplers' results were within 12 percent of each other. The E-Samplers' results were similar to each other. The new MIE DataRAM4 monitor has a particulate-size correction feature that should be enabled for the most accurate results. The DataRAM4 monitor overestimated particulate concentrations by 172 percent, but the results of the two machines tested were within 11 percent of each other. Earlier studies (Laboratory Evaluation of Two Optical Instruments for Real-Time Particulate Monitoring, 9925-2806-MTDC, and Evaluation of Optical Instruments for Real-Time Continuous Monitoring of Smoke Particulates, 0025–2860–MTDC) tested older instruments in the laboratory. Results of field tests of older instruments are reported in Real-Time Smoke Particulate Sampling, Fire Storm 2000 (0125–2832–MTDC).
Keywords: aethalometers, air quality, gravimetric samplers, nephelometers, real time, samplers, smoke management, wood smoke
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